U.S. patent application number 14/987801 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-07 for laundry drying apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Seonil Heo, Yonghyun Kim.
Application Number | 20160194815 14/987801 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55066541 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160194815 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heo; Seonil ; et
al. |
July 7, 2016 |
LAUNDRY DRYING APPARATUS
Abstract
A laundry drying apparatus provided herein may include a cabinet
that includes an upper cover, a drum provided in the cabinet, an
air supply unit configured to supply air to the drum and recover
air from the drum, a reception unit configured to define an upper
surface of the cabinet with the upper cover, and a reception space
provided in the reception unit.
Inventors: |
Heo; Seonil; (Seoul, KR)
; Kim; Yonghyun; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
|
Family ID: |
55066541 |
Appl. No.: |
14/987801 |
Filed: |
January 5, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
34/603 ;
34/139 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/20 20130101;
D06F 58/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 58/20 20060101
D06F058/20; D06F 58/04 20060101 D06F058/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 5, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0000594 |
Claims
1. A laundry drying apparatus comprising: a cabinet that includes
an upper cover; a drum provided in the cabinet; an air supply unit
configured to supply air to the drum and recover air from the drum;
a reception unit configured to define an upper surface of the
cabinet with the upper cover; and a reception space provided in the
reception unit.
2. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a shielding plate provided between the drum and the
reception unit.
3. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
reception unit moves to a position under the upper cover to open
the reception space.
4. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
reception unit includes: at least one reception bracket provided
over the drum; and a sliding door coupled to the at least one
reception bracket that slides to open and close the reception
space.
5. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
at least one reception bracket includes: a reception body
configured to define the reception space; a plurality of guides
provided on lateral sides of the reception body; and a plurality of
guide slits provided on inner facing surfaces of the guides to
guide the sliding door, wherein the sliding door includes a
plurality of slide protrusions formed at lateral sides thereof
configured to be inserted in the plurality of guide slits.
6. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the
plurality of guide slits are inclined downward in a direction away
from the upper cover.
7. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
plurality of guide slits includes a first guide slit and a second
guide slit on each of the inner facing surfaces of the plurality of
guides, and wherein the plurality of slide protrusions includes a
first slide protrusion and a second slide protrusion on each of the
lateral sides of the sliding door.
8. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the
second guide slit has a greater angle of inclination than the first
guide slit on each of the inner facing surfaces of the plurality of
guides.
9. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a
front edge of the sliding door forms a front edge of the cabinet,
and a connecting surface is provided between an upper surface of
the sliding door and a front cover of the cabinet so as to connect
the upper surface of the sliding door to the front cover of the
cabinet.
10. A laundry drying apparatus comprising: a cabinet that includes
an upper cover on a first portion of an upper surface of the
cabinet; a sliding door provided on a second portion of the upper
surface of the cabinet configured to slide under the upper cover to
open and close a reception unit provided in the cabinet; a drum
provided in the cabinet; and a shielding plate provided between the
drum and the reception unit.
11. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the
reception unit includes: a pair of reception brackets provided over
the drum; a reception body configured to define a reception space;
first and second guides vertically provided on lateral sides of the
reception body; and first and second guide slits provided on inner
facing surfaces of the first and second guides to guide the sliding
door, wherein lateral sides of the sliding door include first and
second slide protrusions configured to be inserted in first and
second guide slits, respectively.
12. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the
reception body includes a reception recess having a plurality of
ribs on an inner surface thereof.
13. The laundry drying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a
front edge of the sliding door forms a front edge of the cabinet,
and a connecting surface is provided between an upper surface of
the sliding door and a front cover of the cabinet so as to connect
the upper surface of the sliding door to the front cover of the
cabinet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
to Korean Application No. 10-2015-0000594, filed on Jan. 5, 2015,
whose entire disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a laundry drying
apparatus.
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] A laundry treatment apparatus generally may include a
washing apparatus for washing laundry and a drying apparatus for
drying laundry. The laundry drying apparatus is an appliance that
uses high-temperature air for drying laundry, such as, e.g.,
clothing, which has been washed. A laundry drying apparatus may
include a laundry container for accommodating laundry. Laundry is
dried by supplying dry air to the laundry container and discharging
moisture in the laundry container.
[0006] A laundry drying apparatus may be classified as a top
loading-type apparatus or a front loading-type apparatus depending
on how laundry is introduced into the laundry drying apparatus. The
top loading-type laundry drying apparatus receives laundry from
above, and the front loading-type laundry drying apparatus receives
laundry from the front.
[0007] A laundry drying apparatus may also be classified as a
condensation-type laundry drying apparatus, which circulates air to
dry laundry, or an exhaust-type laundry drying apparatus, which
discharges air to dry laundry. For example, the condensation-type
laundry drying apparatus circulates air, which may have exchanged
heat with the laundry in the drum and may have high humidity,
without discharging the air outside the condensation-type laundry
drying apparatus. The air may exchange heat with external air in a
separate condenser, thereby condensing water, which may be
subsequently discharged outside the condensation-type laundry
drying apparatus.
[0008] A laundry drying apparatus may be used together with, for
example, a washing apparatus. Detergent and functional additives
required to perform a washing operation may be placed on an upper
surface of the washing apparatus or the drying apparatus. In a
laundry drying apparatus, extraneous substances, such as, e.g.,
coins or buttons, may be separated from laundry during drying. The
extraneous substances are usually placed and stored in a separate
location for the sake of subsequent reuse or repair, rather than
being immediately discarded.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail with reference
to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional laundry
drying apparatus;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a laundry drying apparatus
according to an embodiment disclosed herein;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the laundry
drying apparatus according to the embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an upper portion
of the laundry drying apparatus according to the embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of a reception unit of the
laundry drying apparatus according to the embodiment;
[0015] FIGS. 6 and 7 are partial cross-sectional views of the
laundry drying apparatus showing opening and closing operations of
the reception unit according to the embodiment; and
[0016] FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views of the laundry drying apparatus
showing the opening and closing operations of the reception unit
according to the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a laundry drying
apparatus. FIG. 1 is a schematic of an internal construction of a
laundry drying apparatus. The laundry drying apparatus 10 may
include a cabinet 20 defining the appearance of the apparatus, a
drum 30 rotatably provided in the cabinet 20, an air supply unit 50
for circulating air so as to supply dry air to the drum 30 and
recover the air from the drum 30, and a driving unit or driver 40
for supplying and transmitting power to the drum 30 and the air
supply unit 50.
[0018] A door 21, through which items or clothes to be dried may be
introduced into the drum 30, may be provided at or on a front
surface of the cabinet 20. The door 21 may include a door glass 22
so as to allow an inside of the drum 30 to be visible from an
outside of the cabinet 20. The door glass 22 may protrude inward in
a direction of the drum 30 in order to prevent items or clothes
drying in the drum 30 from moving toward the door 21.
[0019] The drum 30 may be in a shape of a cylinder having a drying
space therein. An opening 31, through which clothes may be
introduced and removed, may be provided at a front face of the drum
30. A plurality of air supply holes 32, through which air from the
air supply unit 50 may be supplied to the drum 30, may be provided
at a rear face of the drum 30.
[0020] The air supply unit 50, which may be provided under a front
portion of the drum 30, may recover and heat air in the drum 30 and
may supply heated air to the drum 30 through a rear of the drum 30.
The air supply unit 50 may include a blower fan or blower 41 for
air flow, a recovery duct 52 provided in front of the drum 30 to
recover air from the drum 30, a heating duct 55 that communicates
with the recovery duct 52 to heat air, and a condensation duct 56
connected to the heating duct 55 to condense moisture contained in
the air.
[0021] The driver 40 may supply power required to drive the drum 30
and the air supply unit 50. The driver 40 may include a motor 44 as
well as a power transmitting unit or transmitter 42, such as, e.g.,
a belt and a pulley, for transmitting power from the motor 44 to
the drum 30. The blower 54 may be directly connected to the motor
44 so as to receive power from the motor.
[0022] The recovery duct 52 of the air supply unit 50 may include a
lint filter 60 for filtering lint in the air recovered from the
drum 30. The lint filter 60 may be provided in a front portion of
the drum 30. The lint filter 60 may be removably mounted on the
recovery duct 52 such that the lint filter 60 may be removed from
the recovery duct 52 after the door 21 is opened.
[0023] The laundry drying apparatus 10 may be used together with,
for example, a washing apparatus. Detergent and functional
additives required to perform a washing operation may be placed on
an upper surface of the washing apparatus or the drying apparatus
10.
[0024] In the laundry drying apparatus 10, extraneous substances,
such as, e.g., coins or buttons, may be separated from laundry
during drying. The extraneous substances may be placed and stored
on or in a separate location for the sake of subsequent reuse or
repair, rather than being immediately discarded.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a laundry drying apparatus
according to an embodiment disclosed herein. FIG. 3 is a schematic
cross-sectional view of the laundry drying apparatus according to
the embodiment. A laundry drying apparatus 100 may include a
cabinet 110, which may include an upper cover 112, a front cover
117, side covers 118 and a rear cover 119 so as to define an
appearance of the laundry drying apparatus 100.
[0026] The laundry drying apparatus 100 may further include a drum
120, which may be rotatably provided in the cabinet 110, an air
supply unit 140 configured to supply hot air to an inside of the
drum 120, a driver 130 to supply rotational force to drive the
driver 130 and the air supplying unit 140, and a reception unit 200
defining a portion of an upper surface of the cabinet 110 with the
upper cover 112.
[0027] An upper portion of the cabinet 110 may be formed by the
upper cover 112 and the reception unit or component 200, which
define the portion of the upper surface of the cabinet 110. The
reception unit 200 may define a front edge area of the cabinet 110
as well as the upper surface of the cabinet 110.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, the upper cover 112 of the cabinet 110
may include a recessed surface 113, which may be recesses in an
inner area of the upper cover 112 to provide reinforcement, and a
plurality of side panels 114, which may be provided on sides of the
upper cover 112 so as to cover gaps between side covers 118 and the
rear cover 119 and the upper cover 112.
[0029] An opening 115, through which items or clothes may be
introduced, may be provided at or in the front cover 117 in an
upper area of the cabinet 110. A door 111 may be provided at a
lateral side of the opening 115. A door glass 116 may be provided
at or on a center of the door 111 to allow an inside of the drum
120 to be visible. The door glass 116 may protrude toward the
inside of the drum 120.
[0030] The door 111 may be mounted on the front cover 117 so as to
be inclined at a predetermined angle. An angle of inclination of
the door 111 may be such that an upper portion of the door 111 may
be inclined towards a rear of the cabinet 110. When the door 111 is
mounted at an incline, a user may introduce laundry into the
laundry drying apparatus 100 or may take laundry out of the laundry
drying apparatus 100 without having to stoop down as far as when
the door 111 is vertically mounted, thereby offering convenience to
the user.
[0031] A control panel 127, at which operations, such as, e.g.,
washing and drying, may be input and executed, may also be provided
on the upper area of the front surface of the door 111. The control
panel 127 may include a controller that allows a user to select
procedures to operate the laundry treating apparatus 100, and a
display that displays the procedures to operate the laundry drying
apparatus 100.
[0032] The door 111 may be mounted on the front cover 117 via a
hinge unit or hinge. The hinge may exert a predetermined biasing
force upon opening or closing the door 111. If the door 111 is
mounted on the front cover 117 and inclined at a predetermined
angle, the door 111 may unintentionally rotate due to its own
weight when opening or closing the door 111. According to
embodiments disclosed herein, an elasticity of the hinge unit may
prevent the door 111 from unintentionally rotating due to its own
weight.
[0033] The drum 120, which may be rotatably provided in the cabinet
110, may include a front plate 121 for rotatably supporting the
front part of the drum 120, and a rear plate 122, which may be
coupled to the rear part of the drum 120 so as to rotatably support
the rear part of the drum 120. The front plate 121 of the drum 120
may rotatably support the front end of the drum 120 and allow the
opening 115 in the front cover 117 to communicate with the drum
120.
[0034] A lint filter mount 124, on which a lint filter 125 may be
mounted, may be provided at a lower portion of an inside of the
opening 115. A recovery duct 141 of the air supply unit 140 may be
connected to a lower portion of an outside of the opening 115. The
lint filter 125 may be mounted on the lint filter mount 124 such
that an upper portion of the lint filter 125 may be exposed.
Therefore, lint in the air from the drum 120 may be filtered by the
lint filter 125 while the air in the drum 120 flows into the
recovery duct 141. The lint filter 125 may be provided so as to be
removably mounted on the lint filter mount 124 of the front plate
121 and to be removed from the front plate 121 through the opening
115.
[0035] An air recovery unit 126, which may have a plurality of
through holes therein to allow the air in the drum 120 to be
introduced through a side inlet of the lint filter 125, may be
provided on or at a side of the lint filter mount 124 of the front
plate 121. The air recovery unit 126 may enable an amount of air
introduced into the lint filter 125 to increase, thereby improving
the filtering efficiency of the lint filter 125.
[0036] The opening 115 of the front plate 121 may be configured to
be depressed or recessed toward the door 111 when viewed from
inside the drum 120, and the door glass 116 of the door 111 may be
configured to protrude into the drum 120 from the opening 115.
[0037] The rear plate 122 of the drum 120 may rotatably support the
rear end of the drum 120 and may supply air from the air supply
unit 140 to the inside of the drum 120. The rear plate 122 may be
provided with a plurality of air supply holes 123 formed in a
predetermined area thereof. A condensing duct 144 of the air supply
unit 140, which may communicate with the air supply holes 123 to
supply air to the air supply holes 123, may be provided on an outer
surface of the rear plate 122.
[0038] An inner surface of the front plate 121 and an inner surface
of the rear plate 122, which may face each other, may be
respectively provided with a roller-shaped front support and a
roller-shaped rear support so as to rotatably support the drum 120
provided between the front plate 121 and the rear plate 122.
[0039] The driver 130, which may drive a blower 132 of the air
supply unit 140, may include a motor 131. The blower 132 of the air
supply unit 140 may be coupled to a first end of the rotating shaft
of the motor 131, and a pulley 134 may be coupled to a second end
of the rotating shaft of the motor 131 to transmit rotational force
to the drum 120. The drum 120 may be connected to the pulley 134 by
a belt 135 in order to receive the rotational force of the motor
131.
[0040] As the motor 131 of the driver 130 rotates, the drum 120 and
the blower 132 of the air supply unit 140 may operate
simultaneously. Alternatively, the drum 120 and the blower 132 may
be driven by respective motors.
[0041] The air supply unit 140 may recover and heat the air in the
drum 120 and supply the heated air to the drum 120 again. The air
supply unit 140 may include the recovery duct 141, which may
communicate with the front plate 121 of the drum 120 to recover the
air in the drum 120, the blower 132, which may communicate with the
recovery duct 141 to transfer air, a heating duct 142 including a
heater for heating air transferred by the blower 132, and a
condensation duct 144 for condensing moisture contained in the air
heated by the heating duct 142 to create heated and dry air and
guiding the heated and dry air toward the drum 120.
[0042] The recovery duct 141 may be connected to a lower area of
the outer surface of the front plate 121 of the drum 120. For
example, the recovery duct 141 may be connected to a lower portion
of the lint filter mount 124 provided at the opening 115.
Accordingly, the recovery duct 141 may provide a lint filter space
in which the lint filter 125 mounted on the lint filter mount 124
may be installed.
[0043] The air supply unit 140 may be embodied as a
circulation-type air supply unit or as an exhaust-type air supply
unit. Although the air supply unit has been described as having a
heater, an air supply unit that heats air using a refrigerant in
the manner of a heat pump may also be applied.
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a reception unit or storage
module 200 according to embodiments disclosed herein may include a
reception bracket 220 provided in the laundry drying apparatus 100
and a sliding door 210, which may be guided by the reception
bracket 220 and moved to a position under the upper cover 112 when
the reception unit 200 is opened. The reception unit 200 and the
upper cover 112 may be spaced apart from each other by a
predetermined distance so as to allow the sliding door 210 of the
reception unit 200 to be easily moved.
[0045] The sliding door 210 may be positioned at an upper surface
of a front portion of the laundry drying apparatus 100 so as to be
visible from the front portion of the upper cover 112. The outer
surface of the sliding door 210 may be flush with an upper surface
of the upper cover 112.
[0046] For example, the upper cover 112 may be provided at the
upper surface thereof with the recessed surface 113 to reinforce
the upper cover 112, and the sliding door 210 may be provided at
the upper surface thereof with a recessed surface 211, which may be
flush with the recessed surface 113 of the upper cover 112. Thus,
the upper surface of the laundry drying apparatus 100 may exhibit a
single recessed shape composed of the recessed surface 113 of the
upper cover 112 and the recessed surface 211 of the sliding door
210.
[0047] The front edge of the sliding door 210 may be provided with
a connecting surface 212, which may be continuous with a contour of
the front cover 117 of the cabinet 110. The front edge of the
sliding door 210 may form a front and upper edge of the laundry
drying apparatus 110. The sliding door 210 may be provided at a
front edge thereof with the connecting surface 212 having a
predetermined curved shape, and the upper surface of the sliding
door 210 may be continuous with the front surface of the front
cover 117 via a curved surface of the connecting surface 212.
[0048] According to another embodiment disclosed herein, the
connecting surface 212 of the sliding door 210 may be formed with
an inclined surface having a predetermined angle of inclination. If
the front edge of the sliding door 210 has an inclined surface, the
front edge of the laundry drying apparatus 100 may be formed by the
door 210, the connecting surface 212 and the front cover 117, whose
surfaces may be flat or curved.
[0049] First and second slide protrusions 213 and 214, which may be
guided by first and second guide slits 224 and 225 of the reception
brackets 220, may be provided at lateral sides of the sliding door
210. The first and second slide protrusions 213 and 214 may be
spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and the
second slide protrusion 214 may be provided behind the first slide
protrusion 213.
[0050] The reception brackets 220 may include a body part or
reception body 221, which may define a reception space, and guide
parts or guides 223, which may be provided on or at lateral sides
of the reception body 221 so as to slidably guide the sliding door
210.
[0051] The reception body 221 may be provided with a reception
recess 222 for receiving objects. A plurality of ribs 222a to aid
in restricting movement of objects received in the reception recess
222 may be provided on an inner surface of the reception recess
222.
[0052] The guides 223 may be vertically provided at lateral side
ends of the reception body 221 and may extend downward from the
upper cover 112. First and second surfaces of the guides 223, which
face each other, may be provided with the first and second guide
slits 224 and 225, along which the first and second slide
protrusions 213 may be guided and inserted.
[0053] The first and second guide slits 224 and 225 may be
symmetrically formed in inner surfaces of the guides 223. The first
guide slit 224 may be provided in front of the second guide slit
225. The first guide slit 224 and the second guide slit 225 may
have different angles of inclination and may be inclined downward
in the direction of the upper cover 112. The second guide slit 225
may have a greater angle of inclination than the first guide slit
224.
[0054] The first slide protrusion 213 may be inserted into the
first guide slit 224, and the second slide protrusion 214 may be
inserted into the second guide slit 225. When the sliding door 210
slides, the first and second protrusions 213 and 214 move along the
first and second guide slits 224 and 225, respectively.
[0055] The first guide slit 224 and the second guide slit 225 may
have different angles of inclination. Upper ends of the first and
second guide slits 224 and 225 may extend such that the sliding
door 210 may close the reception body 221 of the reception bracket
220 when the first and second slide protrusions 213 and 214,
inserted in the first and second guide slits 224 and 225, are
positioned at the upper ends of the first and second slits 224 and
225.
[0056] Lower ends of the first and second guide slits 224 and 225
may extend such that the sliding door 210 may open the reception
body 221 of the reception bracket 220 and move under the upper
cover 112 when the first and second slide protrusions 213 and 214,
inserted into the first and second guide slits 224 and 225, are
positioned at the lower ends of the first and second guide slits
224 and 225.
[0057] The sliding door 210 of the reception unit 200 may be
constructed or configured so as to slide under the upper cover 112
when the reception body 221 is opened. That is, when the sliding
door 210 is slid to a position under the upper cover 112, the
sliding door 210 may come very close to an upper end of the drum
120.
[0058] The drum 120 may generate heat having a very high
temperature for a period of time during or after the drying
operation. The heat generated from the drum 120 may be transmitted
to the sliding door 111 of the reception unit 200 and the reception
bracket 220.
[0059] The sliding door 111 and the reception bracket 220 may form
the reception unit 200. Although the sliding door 111 and the
reception bracket 220 may be made of synthetic resin, which may be
injection-molded and highly resistant to heat, the sliding door 111
and the reception bracket 220 may be deformed by the
high-temperature heat generated in the drum 120.
[0060] Thus, a shielding plate 226 to prevent heat generated from
the drum 120 from being transmitted to the reception bracket 220
and the sliding door 111 may be provided under the reception
bracket 220 and the sliding door 111 of the reception unit 200. The
shielding bracket may be coupled and spaced apart from both the
reception bracket 220 and the sliding door 111 by a predetermined
distance so as to decrease heat conductivity.
[0061] As heat generated in the drum 120 during or after the
operation of the laundry drying apparatus 100 may not be
transmitted to the reception bracket 220 or to the sliding door
111, it may be possible to prevent thermal distortion or
deformation of the reception bracket 220 and the sliding door 111.
Furthermore, if a fire breaks out in the laundry drying apparatus
100 due to a malfunction or erroneous operation, the shielding
plate 226 may be able to prevent the fire in the laundry drying
apparatus 100 from spreading outside.
[0062] In one state or position of the reception unit 200, the
reception unit 200 may close the reception recess 222 of the
reception bracket 220. That is, the sliding door 210 of the
reception unit 200 may be removed from the position under the upper
cover 112 and may be positioned over the reception bracket 220, as
shown in FIG. 8. The first and second slide protrusions 213 and 214
formed on lateral sides of the sliding door 210 may be positioned
at the upper ends of the first and second guide slits 224 and 225,
and the front edge of the sliding door 210 may form the front and
upper edge of the laundry drying apparatus 100.
[0063] When the sliding door 210 of the reception unit 200 is
pushed toward the upper cover 112 in order to open the reception
recess 222, the first and second slide protrusions 213 and 214 of
the sliding door 210 may move along the first and second guide
slits 224 and 225 formed in the guides 223 of the reception bracket
220, and the sliding door 210 may move accordingly.
[0064] The first and second guide slits 224 and 225 may be
configured to incline downward as the first and second guide slits
224 and 225 move toward the upper cover 112. Accordingly, as the
sliding door 210 moves under the upper cover 112, the reception
recess 222 of the reception bracket 220 may be opened, as shown in
FIG. 9.
[0065] The laundry drying apparatus 100 according to embodiments
disclosed herein, which may be constructed or configured as
described above, may be provided on the upper surface thereof with
the reception unit 200, thereby enabling a user to easily store
objects.
[0066] The laundry drying apparatus 100 according to embodiments
disclosed herein may be able to prevent heat generated from the
drum 120 during drying from being transmitted to the sliding door
111, thereby preventing the reception unit 200 and the sliding door
111 of the reception unit 200 from being damaged by the heat.
[0067] As the upper cover 112 and the reception unit 200, which may
define the upper surface of the laundry drying apparatus 100, may
be configured to be continuous with each other, the upper surface
of the laundry drying apparatus 100 may look like an integral
component and may have a neat appearance.
[0068] As the laundry drying apparatus 100 may be provided with an
additional reception space, the laundry drying apparatus 100
according to embodiments disclosed herein may be able to separately
store items required for or utilized in washing/drying operations
or extraneous substances that may be separated from items or
clothes during drying.
[0069] A laundry drying apparatus, which may be provided with an
additional reception space for separate storage of items required
for washing/drying operations or extraneous substances generated
from items or clothes during drying, may be provided.
[0070] Embodiments disclosed herein provide a laundry drying
apparatus that may include a cabinet including an upper cover, a
drum disposed or provided in the cabinet, an air supply unit
configured to supply air to the drum and recover air from the drum,
a reception unit that defines an upper surface of the cabinet
together with the upper cover, and a reception space provided in
the reception unit.
[0071] The laundry drying apparatus may further include a shielding
plate provided between the drum and the reception unit.
[0072] According to embodiments disclosed herein, the reception
unit may be moved under the upper cover so as to open the reception
space. The reception unit may include at least one reception
bracket provided over the drum, and a sliding door configured to
slidably couple to or communicate with the at least one reception
bracket so as to open and close the reception space.
[0073] The at least one reception bracket may include a reception
body configured to define the reception space, a plurality of
guides provided on lateral sides of the reception body, and a
plurality of guide slits provided on inner facing surfaces of the
guides to guide the sliding door. The sliding door may include a
plurality of slide protrusions formed at lateral sides thereof
configured to be inserted in the plurality of guide slits.
[0074] The plurality of guide slits may be inclined downward in a
direction away from the upper cover. The plurality of guide slits
may include a first guide slit and a second guide slit on each of
the inner facing surfaces of the plurality of guides, and the
plurality of slide protrusions may include a first slide protrusion
and a second slide protrusion on each of the lateral sides of the
sliding door.
[0075] The second guide slit may have a greater angle of
inclination than the first guide slit on each of the inner facing
surfaces of the plurality of guides.
[0076] A front edge of the sliding door may form a front edge of
the cabinet, and a connecting surface may be provided between an
upper surface of the sliding door and a front cover of the cabinet
so as to connect the upper surface of the sliding door to the front
cover of the cabinet.
[0077] Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
disclosure. The appearances of such phrases in various places in
the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it
is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the
art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in
connection with other ones of the embodiments.
[0078] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
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